Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

 

What is the TOAST Group?

A: It's a gathering of music fans - a collector's collective, you might say- who exchange rare music on homemade CDs (aka CDRs). The two major rules are that discs are not sold, they are only traded (we're even worse than a non-profit organization, we're anti-profit!) and that we do only deal with music that's otherwise not available on standard commercial CDs.

How do I join?

A: We're a private organization, and the board of directors must accept you as a new member.  If an existing member sponsors you, then there should be no problem. We require you to submit a Personal Data and Activity Plan that tells us who you are, where you live, (with contact information) and your collecting interests.  In the PDAP you can forecast of your activity level indicate what CD and research contributions you would like to make to ToNY’s libraries.

We don't go around advertising our existence. Our website, for instance, is private, you get to the first page and you find a picture of a radio. Unless you know what to do at that point, you'll have no idea where you've wound up. (This is an open sesame kind of deal to keep outsiders from somehow stumbling upon the site!)

ToNY makes no restriction for membership based on race, gender, religious background, but does reserve to the organization the right to control benefits based upon contributions of it’s members to the CD research libraries and the body of records relating to matters under study.

How many people are currently involved?

A: The mailing list currently goes out to as many as 40 people, however, not more than 12-15 people are highly active. A half dozen or so active members contribute only a few tracks to CD projects, when called upon, rather than taking on full CD projects.

What kind of music do you toast?

A: We're interested in big band, jazz, dance music and personalities - pop music! - Most of our members favor the '20s, '30s and '40s. That's partly due to personal taste of the collectors in the group but also due to the fact that comparatively little music, for instance, from the pre-swing era is available on standard commercial CDs. But we also have members who specialize in Broadway cast albums, race and hillbilly music. (About the only things we don't do are hard rock and "hard" classical - although I'm sure plenty of people are toasting those out there!)

What do you mean by "toast"?

A: The first program, so far as I know, that was used to produce homemade CDRs (compact disc recordables) on the computer was Adaptec Toast. Henceforth, we refer to all making of one-off CDs by private individuals as "toasting," even though the term doesn't technically apply to the method of recording CDRs in a dedicated audio machine, such as the Philips.

Can you talk a little more about the process of toasting?

A: Well, let's not go into the technical side too much. That would require a most elaborate discussion indeed! But, a fairly detailed information on how to make quality 78 transfers and other techniques and tricks is provided in the Technical Topics discussion of our Membership Packet.  We assume that as a record collector, you are versed in some of the basics of dealing with shellac and electronic equipment.

The transfer of the music to CD is a relatively simple process.  There are two basic ways to accomplish this: use a computer with a CD burner mounted in it, or use a stand-alone audio CD recorder. On the whole, the CD recorder method (the kind that does NOT involve a computer) is easier for most non-technical types and is recommended for those not into computer sound editing. The audio CD recorders are coming down in price and the process is much less involved - the controls are very similar to a standard audio cassette recorder. The computer process produces wonderful results, but the effort is somewhat more involved and requires a suitable software package and some basic computer skills. If you are technically inclined and would like to consider doing audio restoration, the computer with CD burner may be for you.

Help is available through the groups’ technical advisor and various published resources.

Who are your members?

A: The vast majority are 78 collectors who want to share their acquisitions with each other.

Who makes the decisions and sets the ground rules for the group?

 

A: There is a Board of Directors, made up of the three individuals who were primarily involved with founding the group.

 

Does one have to be a 78 collector to get involved?

A: No, but if you want to become an active member who contributes and receives a lot of discs, realistically, it sure helps.  Keeping this thing going requires lots of work. Non-78 collectors can help with the paperwork (doing track sheets and the like). We also need people to help keep the website up to date. As I mentioned above, we don't take money for any of these discs, so being a member in good standing requires contributions of discs, labor or research.

How are the discs distributed?

Basically, individual collectors toast the CDs. Each collector makes a master copy for himself and a second master copy that he sends to the Chief of Projects and Plans, who assigns it to a specific library and advises the Chief Administrator how many credits are awarded to the member for his contribution. The Administrator then posts the relevant information about the disc on the website, and that signals the members that it is available for distribution, upon request.

Then discs are duplicated, labeled, put in sleeves and then mailed out to the members.

 

What does it take to start receiving discs?

 

A: First, you have to be an active member.  We also have non-active members and non-members who sometimes provide administrative assistance to the group. Once you have been accepted as a new member, and have submitted your Personal Data and Activity Plan, you are eligible to receive from 10 to 20 CD’s for each one you contribute.  Whether it is 10 or 20 depends on the quality of your submissions.  There is also a restriction of no more than 20 discs per month, to keep the system from getting over-taxed.  There is also one other thing required before you can start receiving discs.

 

What's the other thing?

A: Apart from labor, we also expect recipients to contribute something for materials, which includes blank discs, labels, sleeves and shipping materials.  This contribution can be made in the form of either money (cash, check or paypal even) to the tune of around $1.00 per disc, plus a mailing fee that depends on the size of your package and speed of delivery.

I notice there are two kinds of blank CDRs that one can buy. Which kind do you use?

A: A: Right now, for our duplicators, we use the cheaper kinds, which are for computer burners, not the slightly more expensive kind which are for audio CD recorders. You should be to obtain these for no more than 25 cents a disc, if you by them on bulk “spindles” in lots of 50 or 100 without jewel cases. If you plan to buy blanks and send them in, we recommend buying blank discs in "spindles", because we do not use the mini or regular jewel cases as the add bulk to the mailing packages. (Of course, for you own use, if you're using an audio CD Recorder, such as the Philips, you can only use the discs marked "Digital Audio Recordable - For Consumer." They are slightly more expensive.)

What's your policy regarding jewel cases?

A: Actually, this is an infrequently asked question, but rather than set up a separate page and call it "IFAQ" I'll answer it here anyhow. Personally, I don't use jewel cases, I consider them wasteful of space and ecologically unsound. However, I do have them lying around sometimes, and I will hand 'em out to NYC based members who ask nicely. As far as out of town members are concerned, you're on your own - all mailings are done without jewel cases, just because the darn things are too expensive to mail, and always arrived broken in a million pieces anyhow.

What's your policy regarding track sheets?

A: Simply put, we require them.  In your membership packet there will be a section that addresses documentation requirements for any disc or discs submitted for posting.

How do projects get initiated?

 

A: We encourage members to initiate project proposals of their own or with help from others members.  The proposed project then must be submitted to the Chief of Projects and Plans to get the go ahead.  This is mainly to prevent confusing duplication of effort and to insure that it is within the scope of what the organization wants to preserve.

 

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Does this mean I can’t work independently?

 

A: Not at all, any arrangement that leads to the best projects is acceptable, once it has been approved.

 

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Do all projects have to be complete?  Does it have to be “The Complete Carl Fenton” or can it be “The Hot Carl Fenton Sides” instead?

 

A: Sure, whatever you want, just material we haven't already done. Ideally, we do prefer working on complete projects. In a perfect world, members could receive a project like THE COMPLETE GEORGE OLSEN and then toast off their own favorite tracks onto their own compilations. Most of us prefer the hot sides, but that shouldn't be taken as a given - Demento loves the novelties and Father Knickerbocker has a penchant for all manner of show tunes (performed by dance bands as well as original cast members), the more obscure the better. Both of them would feel cheated if they got a disc of  JUST THE HOT GEORGE OLSEN that omitted the comedy numbers and show tunes, and I don't blame them.

 

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I can’t imagine doing a complete Nat Shilkret. A lot of his stuff is boring.  But, the hot sides really swing.  Likewise with Bob Haring, Ben Selvin, and other commercial bands.

 

A: I think ultimately it makes sense to toast the commercial bands like Shilkret as completely as we can make it - after all, the price of a disc is cheap. THEN let everybody toast their own BEST OF SHILKRET or whatever. Ours is an archival project, but one could compile projects for fun listening - according to one's own taste - out of them.

How do I know what artists are being toasted, and what discs are needed for what projects?

A: It's impossible to keep that going on the website, it changes so frequently, but there are several sources for that information.  One is the Chief of Projects and Plans.  Another is the QT Board, and a third is a monthly email newsletter that the group distributes to active members.

If you have a project in mind, you can always send a posting out to the members to see if anyone's already doing it.

Is there any band you wouldn't want?

A: No, we're equally opportunity toasters. Feel free to propose any band or personality from the period (or any period), as long as we haven't done it already - and I'm sure there are some projects where that can be substantially upgraded and improved from what we've done.

Do you want anything at all? Or just jazz related items. Do they all
have to be from our 78s or are dubs from LP/CD/Tapes okay?

A: Any good music is okay; but it should be music originally recorded before vinyl discs became the medium for commercial issues by recording companies. A few tracks from tape or LP reissues to complete a project are permitted, if clearly labeled as such, but we had rather you find a good 78 of the issue and make a quality digital transfer from it. As to the music we would consider country, classical, blues, whatever – but nothing in the style of your kid's garage rock band.

Do I have to identify the source material?

 

A: As a preservation and research oriented group, it is essential that we accurately document the source material used for each and every track.  Secondly, that information will become useful should a member be in a position to offer to upgrade certain tracks.   Finally, it is only fair to our membership, as they deserve to have some idea what the CD they are receiving as a member benefit consists of.

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Is there a financial contribution required?

A: We ask the members to send a check to cover the cost of postage and materials  See Attachment A for details.

To whom do I make out the check and where do I send it?

A:   John Aldrich, 2023 W. Guadalupe Rd. #11-214, Mesa, AZ  85202